Structure of hulls for mine-laying submarine boats



' v. CAVALLlNl Feb. 11, 1930.

STRUCTURE OF BULLS FOR MINE LAYING SUBMARINE nous Filed Oct. 25, 1929 Fig?) Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i VIRGINIO CAVALLINI, OF ROME, ITALY s'rnocrnnnor BULLS Fort MINE LAYING SUBMARINE soars App1ication filed October 25, 1929, Serial No. 402,334, and in italy November 5, 1928.

The object of the present invention is a novel structure of the hull for mine-laying submarine boats, for the purpose of allowing to transport the mines in a perfectly dry 5 condition to the spot where it is desired to lay them, the mines coming into contact with the water only at the moment of their being launched, which renders possible a permanent watch over them and consequently to i efiect adjustments or repairs eventually needed; the invention having also for its object to secure for the submarine boat the most favourable conditions of equilibrium during the transport and the laying of the mines.

The invention consists substantially in arranging around the inhabited part of the hull of the submarine boat several supplementary longitudinal chambers, of suitable shape and a size, one of which, namely the lowest one,

constant, also at the moment when water is introduced into the chamber of the mines preparatory to their being laid.

. In the accompanying drawing, which showsschematically two embodiments of the 30. object of the invention: Fig. 1 shows a partial longitudinal section of the submarine boat,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same according toa first embodiment and Fig. 3 is another vertical section of the same according to a second embodiment.

As will be seen from the drawing, the inhabited part of the hull of the submarine boat, containing likewise the propelling 4 plant, forms a closed chamber 4, thehull 1 of which is contained within the outer hull 2, having, for instance, a circular shape and subdivided, according to a first embodiment (Fig. 2) by suitable partitions 3-3 so as to form other three separate chambers, namely chambers 55 which are the chambers of compensation and for the water ballast for the immersion, and the lower chamber 6 which contains the mines 7.

According to another embodiment, the

chambers 5-5 are united in one single chamber (Fig. 3), in both embodiments chamber 6 being provided with means allowing to communicate with the interior 4 of chamber 1 through a suitable passage, normally kept closed by ashutter 8. The hatchway 9 for laying the mines is at one end of chamber 6.

When it is desired to lay the mines, water is introduced into chamber 6 at the same time emptying a certain number of compartments of chambers 5, or else the water is poured from compartments 5 to chamber 6, after which the laying of the mines maybe started.

It will be understood that the object of the invention may undergo many variations without departing from its fundamental idea; for instance the mines may be arranged in one or more rows with their axes disposed vertically or horizontally, the laying may be eliected by means of a suitable rack operated by hand, or automatically or by any other convenient system. Also the conveyance of the mines to the launching hatch-ways may be efiected by hand or mechanically, and also the laying may be performed continuously or at intervals. 7

Finally the chamber or the supplementary chambers may be arranged in the middle part of the boat or even towards the stern or towards the bow and may, as it is evident, be differently shaped, sized and arranged according to circumstances.

Claims 1. Hull for mine-laying submarine boat, comprising a plurality of longitudinal chambers, all watertight and capable of Withstanding pressure, one of them forming the inhabited part and containing also the propelling apparatus, another one designed to contain the mines and provided with an opening on the upper part in order to communicate with the inhabited chamber, as well as with an opening at one of its ends, provided with a shutter and permitting the laying of mines in the sea, and the other chambers designed to take on board the Water necessary for the immersion and for maintaining equilibrium when water is introduced in the mine-chamber before laying them, for this purpose these latter chambers, besides with apertures communicating with the sea, being provided also with apertures capable of being closed, and permitting communication with the chamber of mines.

2. Submarine boat according to claim 1, in which both the outer hull and the chamber forming the inhabited part, besides the one designed to serve as deposit for the mines, have a substantially circular section.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature this 14th day of October, 1929.

VIRGINIO CAVALLINI. 

